Brushes



Oct. 29, 1963 c. K. McwlLLlAMs BRUSHES Filed May l5, 1962 CLYDE l lvlcwlL'LaAhns United States Patent O 3,108,366 BRUSIMS Clyde K. McWilliams, 16176 James Couzens Highway, Detroit, Mich. Filed May 1s, 1962, ser. No. 194,855 i claim. (cils- 171) This invention relates to articles used for cleaning including brushes of various kinds and constructions and to the exterior configuration and structure, as well as the manner in which such brushes are produced for ruggedness and durability.

The invention relates particularly to brushes and the like objects used on marble, tile and terrazzo floors and walls and in which areas include furnishings and make it desirable to avoid scratching or otherwise marring such furnishings and walls.

Brushes of various types, sizes and materials have been produced including some having protective features to prevent injury to objects contacted but such prior devices have been subject to criticism for various reasons including that the protective portions were inadequate or unsatisfactory or involved too much to apply or to use;

It is an object of the invention to overcome the diiiculties enumerated and to provide brushes of simple construction with protective features requiring a minimum of time, effort and material in their production and which protective features are of such a character that they remain in place without attaching means and they assist 1n anchoring and maintaining tufts of bristles in place resulting in maximum ruggedness, durability, and consequent satisfaction inthe use of the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide parts, certain of which can be applied to conventional brushes to prevent scratching and marring of furniture and walls, and with such articles composed of relatively soft material of a character which may be readily applied over the end of a brush or handle and due to its intimacy cannot readily be removed, a soft vi yl having been found to be satisfactory.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one application of the invention;

FIG. 2, a fragmentary detailed perspective of the underside of one end of the back with its protective boot;

FIG. 3, a similar View after the bristles have been applied;

FIG. 4, a section on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5, a section on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6, an enlarged fragmentary detail.

Briefly stated, the invention is a brush of a type par-` ticularly suitable for industrial use with qualities alfording maximum ruggedness and durability, and with protective equipment in the form of boots or covers for exposed extremities of backs, handles, and the like, to prevent scratching and marring of furniture, walls and other painted or highly finished surfaces.

With continued reference to the drawing, the brush of the present invention comprises an elongated back l@ with blunt rounded ends and of any desired material such as a relatively hard wood or other desired material in which tufts of bristles 11 of nylon or other suitable material are mounted in openings 12.

The back is provided with a pair of angular central threaded openings 13, one at each side of the same, for the selective reception of a handle 14 of any desired length, such handle having a rounded remote end 1S for comfortable gripping or holding. The head of the brush preferably is similarly rounded to avoid sharp edges another sleeve or boot 17 for the rounded end 15' of the handle 14. The boots 16 and 17 are preformed and are employed to prevent scratching and marring of furniture and walls with which they come in contact.

As will be apparent from FIG. 1, the end boots 16 and 17 are of the configuration of the portions of the device over which they are applied and they have relatively thin walls so that they t snugly in place and provide a protective covering or a protective surface while adding no appreciable bulk to the brush.

Since the walls of the boots 16 and 17 are relatively thin and the boots are of sizes to tit snugly in place they will not readily become detached. In order to decrease further the likelihood of the end boots 16 from becoming detached, these boots are applied prior to the application of the tufts of bristles in the area covered by such end boots. In applying the same they are punched through the flat sheet and provide openings 18 in the boot with marginal inturned rims 19 which extend into the respective openings 12 in the back of the brush so that they provide protective covering for the ends of the brush as well as bumpers when they are brought into contact with the walls, furniture or the like.

The end boots may be made of different shapes and sizes and preferably a relatively soft vinyl or other suitable non-moistureabsorbent material and by the dip method over a form, or they can be produced by injection molding.

It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is illustrated in the drawing and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the accompanying claim.

What is claimed is:

A brush designed primarily for industrial use and maximum ruggedness and durability, said brush comprising an elongated back of relatively hard material with blunt rounded ends and spaced bristle-receiving openings in one face thereof, a relatively thin non-moisture absorbent boot over each end of said brush, said boots encircling and enclosing said blunt ends, and tufts of bristles punched through said boots in a manner to provide inturned rims extending into the respective openings in said back thereby excluding moisture and other matter and assisting in maintaining said boots in place, said boots providing protective coverings for the ends of the brush to prevent marring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 347,048 Kane Aug. 10, 1886 2,262,961 Otto Nov. 18, 1941 2,279,355 Wilensky Aug. 14, 1942 2,619,671 Humphrey Dec. 2, 1952 2,958,888 Peterson Nov. 8, 1960 3,029,455 Siculan Apr. 17, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 8,931 Great Britain May 29, 1889 29,134 Great Britain Dec. 18, 1896 363,270 Great Britain Dec. 17, 1931 

